Clashes over Spain corruption claims

19 July 2013 Last updated at 09:50 GMT Tom Burridge reports on Spain's "most angry" demonstration since reports of the scandal broke

Spanish police and dozens of anti-government demonstrators clashed in central Madrid overnight, leaving several people injured.

More than 1,000 people protested outside the governing Popular Party (PP) headquarters in the capital.

There is widespread anger over allegations of illegal cash payments to members of the conservative PP.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy is under pressure to give an explanation to parliament. He denies wrongdoing.

The demonstrations on Thursday night caused disruption to traffic in central Madrid.

Protesters held placards calling on the government to resign. There was also a protest outside the PP offices in Valencia.

The corruption allegations coincide with Spain's worst economic crisis for decades, with record unemployment and many Spaniards struggling to make ends meet.

The PP's former treasurer, Luis Barcenas, is in custody facing trial for corruption and tax fraud. He denies the allegations.

He says he made numerous bonus payments - in cash - to Mr Rajoy and other senior party members, out of the party slush fund of illegal donations by businesses.

Ledgers detailing such payments, and apparently written by Mr Barcenas, have been published in two Spanish newspapers - El Pais and El Mundo.

Mr Rajoy and other PP members have repeatedly denied that they received illegal payments.

The prime minister has accused Mr Barcenas of blackmail.

For now at least there is no sign that Mr Rajoy might resign over the scandal, the BBC's Tom Burridge reports from Madrid. The PP has a comfortable majority in parliament.

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Turks hit by deadly Syrian clashes

17 July 2013 Last updated at 16:06 GMT Clashes are said to have started after al-Nusra rebels attacked a convoy of Kurdish women fighters A Turkish boy has died and another has been seriously wounded by stray gunfire from clashes across the Syrian border.

Mahsun Ertugrul, 17, died after a stray bullet struck him in the chest in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar.

The bullets came from the northern Syrian town of Ras-al Ain, during a battle between Syrian anti-government rebels and Kurdish fighters.

The fighting reportedly killed at least 10 people. Recently, several Syrian clashes have spilled into Turkey.

The latest incident highlights the growing concern that Syria's civil war is dragging in neighbouring states.

'Rain of bullets'

The death of the teenage boy sparked anger in Ceylanpinar, where locals tried to prevent an injured Syrian who was evacuated to Turkey from being taken to hospital.

A 15-year-old boy from the same town was in intensive care after a stray bullet struck him in the head.

An official from Ceylanpinar told BBC Turkish the town was under a "rain of bullets" coming across the border.

Vice-Mayor Ahmet Ayrilmaz said many buildings were hit by bullets.

Mr Ayrilmaz confirmed that some injured Syrian rebels were brought to town for treatment, provoking reaction from the locals.

The Turkish army released a statement saying they opened fire from a border post in retaliation for the stray bullets.

Local media reports say people in Ceylanpinar are avoiding going out on the streets.

Strategic town

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based activist group, said clashes started on Tuesday after fighters from the Islamist rebel group al-Nusra attacked a convoy of Kurdish women fighters and took a gunman hostage.

Nine jihadists and two Kurdish fighters were killed in clashes, the Observatory said.

There was no independent verification of the account.

The pro-Kurdish Firat News Agency reported that 15 people had died.

Clashes between Kurds and anti-government Syrian and foreign fighters have erupted since Kurds began asserting control over parts of north-eastern Syria from late last year.

Ras al-Ain is home to a majority Kurdish population and is of strategic importance given its location close to Turkey.

Kurdish fighters are trying to ensure neither the regime of President Bashar al-Assad nor the opposition takes control of the area.

In the worst example of the spillover of violence into Turkey, 52 people were killed when twin car bombs ripped through Reyhanli, another border town, on 11 May.

Turkey accused Syria of involvement in the attacks but Damascus has denied any role.

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Deadly clashes continue at Egypt's Tahrir Square

An army-erected brick wall has become a central point in the running battles around Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

Overnight, protesters tried to tear down the barrier to reach parliament. For the fifth consecutive day, opponents of continued army rule have clashed with security forces. Protesters claim soldiers are using live rounds to chase them away.

At least 13 people are now said to have been killed since Friday but some of those who have taken part say the latest attack produced more casualties.

Signs of violence are clearly visible in the day but it is at night when the disturbances erupt. Authorities have blamed what they call “evil forces” of trying to sow the seeds of chaos and say soldiers have shown “self-restraint” despite provocation.

More about: Clashes and riots, Police violence, Unrest in Egypt Copyright © 2013 euronews

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